Cf  Duke  University  Libraries 

crnl  The  holy  shield 

^Z     J  Conf  Pam  12mo  #601 

\2m>  DTTD3a5ThD 


'a-  IlIllNllilllllllll: 


ITo.86i 

THE  EOLY  SHIELD. 

[From  "Myrtle  Leaves."] 

"How  sleep  tae  brave  who  sink  t<*  rest, 
By  all  their  Country's  wishes  blest; 
When  spring  with  dewy  fingers  cold, 
Returns  to  deck  their  hallowed  mould, 
She  there  shall  dresa  a.  sweeter  sod, 
Than  Fancy's  feet  have  ever  trod. 

By  fairy  hauds  their  knell  is  rung, 
By  forms  unseen  their  dirge  is  sang ; 
There  Honor  comes  a  pilgrim  gray, 
To  bless  the  turf  that  wrap§  their  clay, 
And  freedom  shall  awhile  repair 
To  dwell  a  weeping  hermit  there." 

Among  those  who  promptly  responded 
to  the  first  call  of  our  country  in  her  strug- 
gle for  independence,  WftsLieat.  Manauni, 
a  son  of  Judge  Mangam,  of  Orange  Coun- 
•  ty,  North  Carolina.  He  joined  the  6th  N. 
0.  Regiment  under  the  brave  a:ul  lament- 


ed  Colonel  Fisher.  While  the  regiment 
was  in  the  camp 'of  instruction,  I  visited 
the  beauti*  il  and  happy  hgme  which  he 
had  exchange  d  for  the  tented  field.  The 
warm,  true  hearts  he  had  left  behind  him, 
were  resigned  and  hopeful — though^affec- 
tion  would  whisper  to  them  of  the  trials 
he  would  suffer  and  the  dangers  he 
would  meet.  When  I  was  leaving 
a  loving,  and  pious,  sister  said  "Pres- 
ton tells  me  that  his  Bible  is  too  large 
to  be  carried  in  his  breast-pocket,  and 
I  wish  you  to  procure  a  small  neat  Tes- 
tament for  him,  before  he  leaves  for  Vir- 
ginia. Bibles  have  turned  balls  and  may 
do  so  again"  I  promised  to  comply  ami 
then  with  a  smile  which  betrayed  a  sister's 
love  and  christian  faith,  she  bade  me  adieu. 
Jn  my  effort  to  obtain  a  suitable  Testament 
I  was  unsuccessful,  and  the  young  soldier 
kept  theBible  as  his  companion  in  the  dread 
triajs  which  were  before  him.  A  few  days 
only  passed  away,  ere  he'and  his  comrades 
were  marshalled  :n  the  battle's  front  on 
the  Plains  of  Manassas.  When  the  charge 
was  ordered,  he  bravely  pressed  to  the  on- 
set and  with  waving  sword  and  thrilling 
voice  cheered  and  rallied  the  heroic  col- 


I 

umn  as  it  staggered  before  the  fiery  storm. 
Ere  long  while  standing  by  a  battery  from 
which  the  enemy  had  been  driven,  he  was 
seen  to  raise  his  hand  suddenly  to  Lis 
breast  then  to  stagger  and  fall.  A  ball  had 
struck  him.  He  was  borne  from  the  field 
to  the  hospital,  and  after  a  slight  examina- 
tion, pronounced  mortally  wounded.  The 
surgeons,  however,  discovered  that  the 
ball  had  struck  his  Bible— and  its  force  and 
direction  seemed  to  have  been  so  affected 
by  it  that  he  was  saved  from  instant  death. 
When  this  was  known,  how  thr.nkfnl  was 
she  who  gave  him  that  blessed  volume ! 
And  how  I  rejoiced  that  I  could  not  find 
a  Testament,  for  that  would  have  been  so 
small  that  it  might  not  have  shielded  his 
heart !  In  this  we  saw  the  hand  of  the 
Father  and  were  thankful.  But  the 
wound  was  fatal  and  when  the  battle  en- 
thusiasm was  over,  he  feared  that  he 
would  not  recover.  It  was  then,  that  as 
he  looked  within  his  bosom.,  he  realized 
his  need  of  the  sympathy  of  a  greater 
than  man.  Amid  the  confusion  and  tu- 
mult and  suffering  around  him  he  ear- 
nestly looked  to  the  Mercy- Seat  and 
through  the  merits  of  his  Savior,  leaned 


bis  spirit  on  the  bosom  of  Infinite  Love. 
As  his  mortal  life  was  ebbing  out  at  that 
ghastly  wound  ©n  his  breast,  eternal  life 
came  t#  him  through  the  mercy  bf  Hea- 
ven as  it  healed  the  wounds  of  bis  soul. 
Watching  by  his  death-couch  I  heard 
worcli  of  triumph  from  his  panting  lips 
that  it  is  very.eweet  to  remember.  Those 
words  were  made  more  beautiful  and  elo- 
quent by  the  spirit-splendor  which  beam- 
ed in  his  dark  eye  and  spread  like  celes- 
tial radiance  over  his  calm  and  manly, 
face.  He  told  m©  that  he  had  been  par- 
doned since  he  was  wounded.  "  I  be- 
lieve," said  he,  **  that.  I  am  numbered 
among  those  who  are  embraced  in  His 
mercy."  With  melting  emphasis  be 
quoted  so»©  stanzas  of  poetry-— a  farewell 
address  to  his  distant  mother.  But  a 
short  time  before  he  died  he  turned  to  his 
faithfal  servant  and  said,  * 'There  is  a 
land  where  the  wickad  cease  from 
troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest." — 
^Tonelmt-those  who  heard  him  can  ever 
knaw  what  "deep  and  powerful  meaning 
he  gave  those  precious  words.  He  spoke 
like  one  who  had  fied  to  that  refuge  and 
was  already  reclining  on   the   bosom  of 


tli at  heavenly  rest.  It  was  far  more  like 
the  voice  of  experience  than  the  voice  of 
faith. 

So  talented — so  heroic — so  kind — it  was 
sad  to  strangers  to  see  him  die — 'twas 
sadder|far,  for  the  friend  who  had  joined 
him  in  the  pleasures  of  boyhood  and 
shared  with  him  tho  sacred  dreams  of 
yonth  !  He  has  fallen  in  the  first  of  his 
fields,  but  he  has  not  fallen  forever. 

"  He  sleeps  his  last  sleep — he  has  fought 
his  last  battle,"  but  it  can  not  be  said  of 
him,,  that 

"No  sound  can  n^ke  him  to  glory  again  ;" 

for  in  the  day  of  the  victory  of  the  ran- 
somed over  the  last  and  greatest  foe,  he* 
shall  be  summoned  to  the  shining  ranks 
by  the  celestial  clarion  and  be  crowned 
with  honors  which  shall  be  increasing  in 
rapture  and  glory, 

"When  victor's  wreaths  and  monarch's  gems, 
Shall  blend  in  common  dust." 

This  assurance  is  sacredly  cherished  by 
the  bereaved   and  riven  hearts  that  "still 


weep  by  his  tomb.  There  is  no  genuine 
balm  in  any  other  thought.  AYe  would 
have  our  friends  and  kindred  fall,  if  fall 
they  must  in  their  Country's  defence,  with 
a  name  unsullied  and  honor  undimmed  ; 
but  mere  patriotism  and  daring  can  not 
shed  the  light  of  *  immortal  hope  above 
their  slumbering  dust  or  lead  their  noble 
spirits  to  a  home  of  everlasting  happiness. 
It  is  well  to  receive  the  laurel-wreath  for 
devotion  to  a  just  and  righteous  cause — it 
is  infinitely  better  to  be  crowned  with  the 
chaplet  of  Immortality  in  a  land  whose 
honors  perish  not  forever.    ■   • 

There  you'll  meet  him   again   dear    "mother,"  and 

"sisters" 
Wher.e  the  war  cry  will  call  him  away,  never  more: 
Where  the  rude  sound  of  battle  forever  is  silenced, 
Where  you'll  know  him,  and  love  him   as  you  have 

heretofore. 

We  know  that  the  household    is  dreary  without  him, 
And  the  chain  is  now  broken  of  fond  earthly  love; 
Hut  the  links  that  are  severed,  will  be  reunited 
In  Heaven,  sweet  Heaven,  that  bright  home  above. 


DO  THEY  THINK  OF  ME  AT  HOME? 

(Time:  "My  Old   Kentucky  Home." 

Do  they  think  of  me  at  home,  when   the  sun  has  left 
the  skies, 
►      When  the  happy  circle  gathers  round  the    hearth, 
When  the  light  of  love  is  dancing  in  the  bright,  laugh- 
ing eyes, 
And  the  aged  join  with  children  in  their  mirth  ? 

Chorus — Tlomel  Sweet  Home  !  Do  they  think  of  the 

soldier  there  ? 
Yes,  we  think  of  you  by  day,  and  we  pray  for  you  by 

night, 
We  cannot,  cannot  cease  to  think  of  you. 

Do  they  think  of  me  at  home,  when  the  daily  meal  is 
spread, 
When  the  boys  and  girls  have  come  to  claim   their 
share  ? 
Do  they  all  think  of  me,  when  the  words  of  grace  are 
said, 
And  still  look  sadly  at  my  vacant  chair? 

Chorus — Home  1  Sweet  Home  1  Do  they  think  of  the 
soldier  there  ? 

Do  they  think  of  me  at  home,  on  the  blessed  Sab- 
bath day, 
When  the   servants  of  the   Lord   in  prayer  have 
kpelt? 


*  t  g 

When  to  heaven  their  hearts  ascend,  do  they  then  re- 
member me, 
And  ask  for  me  the  grace  which  they  have  felt? 

Chorus — Home !  Sweet  Home  I  Do  they  think  of  the 
soldier  there  ? 

.• 

Yes  !  we  think  of  you  at  home,  at  the  early  dawn  of 
day, 
When  the  sun  is  smiling  on  us  as  he  parts, 
When  we  work,  when  we  rest,  when  we  sing,  when  we 
pray,  ' 
We  think  of  you  with  loving,  longing  hearts. 

Chorus — Home !  Sweet  Home  !  Do  they  think  of  the 
soldier  there  ? 

.A  il  ft*  livelong  day — till  evening  shadows  fall — 
in  joy,  in  sadness — still  we  wish  for  you, 

To  cheer  us  in  the  one,  to  share  with  us  in  all, 
With  that  love  so  firm,  so  tender,  and  so  true. 

Chorus — Home  !  Sweet  Home !  Do  they  think  of  the 
soldier  there  ? 

0,  we  think,  of  you  at  home',  and  our  deepest,  war- 
mest prayer, 
The  prayer  which  is  both  old,  and  ever  new, 
Is  that  which  goes  to  God  for  th'ft  sonls  we   love  so 
dear ;  f 

We  canaot — cannot  cease  te  think  of  you. 

Chorus — Homo!  Sweet-Home!  Dc  thoy  think  of  the 
soldier  there  ? 

B.  M.  Jr. 


Hollinger  Corp. 
PH8.5 


